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True Blue

Whenever I travel outside the Northwest and people hear that I’m from the Seattle area, the next words out of their mouth are invariably….”how do you stand all that rain”? I’ve learned over the years that I’m not going to convince them but I always love the opportunity to share “the other side” of the Puget Sound region. Those of us who love it here, know that a weekend like this makes up for a few weeks of gray and spitting rain….and then some! This is a completely un-retouched (other than resizing) photo of the 56 floor Two Union Square building taken on Saturday afternoon. Contrary to what many outside the area may think, sunshine like this isn’t all that uncommon….well, maybe when the sun is accompanied by 60 degree temps…..on February 19. Gorgeous! Download battle los angeles movie poster full movie Download the lord of the rings: the two towers movie dvd Watch movie 2012 full movie full movie Download due date movie poster movie Download battle los angeles movie reviews hd Love at First Hiccup movie download Dave Chappelles Block Party movie trailer Arthur movie for sale Live Free or Die Hard movie Watch online The Acid...

Rolling out our new look….

By Colleen Fischesser

Throughout my career I’ve typically updated my marketing photo every few years. It’s an agonizing process. I think I’d rather have two root canals than have a new head shot taken. They say with age comes wisdom, right? So a few years ago I was feeling very wise and decided to go the art-illustration route to avoid the need for future photos. (I figure I won’t have to update that until I turn completely gray-at least that’s the plan) But for some new marketing materials, I thought we need a team photo. Bad idea. After about 60 shots, many bloopers we couldn’t all agree on one good shot. Here were the highlights: Let’s just say it’s hard to be serious. Sharon was the photographer and not helping the situation at all! Look at what a good girl Andrea is, this is why I hired her! She’s a rule follower. (Right Andrea?) Once we hit this point we know it’s time to call it quits. MANY shots later, fug-ged-aboud-it! So I made an executive decision and opted to do exactly that….forget about the team photo. Instead, here’s our new look for Colleen & Co: (ME) Joanna (Realtor Associate/Short Sales), Nicole...

In any market-Spooky Houses Don’t Sell Well!

By Colleen Fischesser

This is a post I wrote a year ago about an actual showing I’d had that day. It was so fun because Halloween really was just around the corner, and this house really was the creepiest I’d ever shown in almost two decades of real estate. So in the spirit of Halloween, I’m dusting off this old blog post and giving it new life. Enjoy! Originally published October, 2008 _________________________________ I should have taken it as a sign when the listing agent told me that the property I was calling about was “very interesting”. Instead I got excited and told him how much I loved to see interesting homes.…he just chuckled. (and in hindsight I think his laugh actually sounded a little diabolic) And now I know why. The original plan was for me to go preview this home first for a client, but at the last minute he called to say he was available to go with me….which was a VERY good thing. Little did I know this house was hands down the spookiest listing I’d ever seen! Think of any scary movie…it starts with the closed gate at the road, all overgrown- the house completely hidden from...

Facts about Seattlites

By Colleen Fischesser

Although my husband and I are technically “transplants” to the Seattle area, we have lived here for 22 years and have realized that we fit in quite well thank you very much….We came across proof this Summer while having lunch in Pioneer Square. This easel sits outside a floral shop. I know I’m guilty of all of them! Watch rio movie full movie Download watch 300 movie movie Watch dial m for murder movie download Watch inception movie full movie Download scream 4 the movie full movie Meet Dave movie reviews Download The Black Cobra Cobra nero movie Buy Romeo and Juliet movie Watch Mask of the Ninja movie online Love Is a Splendid Illusion movie Watch online Watch Summer Love aka Dead Mans Bounty the movie Journey to the Seventh Planet the movie Watch Dance of the Dead movie online Point Blank dvd The Bourne Identity movie dvd Download How High Is Up movie Oil on Water movie online Download Triassic Attack movie The Long Riders movie online Download Adam movie Playground dvd Download Visions Death Spider movie Watch The Saphead movie online Falling in Love movie dvd Download Step Up 3 movie Stealth movie online Deadwater movie...

At Least I’m Not a Builder!

By Colleen Fischesser

For a brief time during the “run up” my husband and I considered buying a lot and building a spec home. We had recently had a successful investment experience and were feeling sassy and confident (ok that was me, my husband was willing to appease me) in the effort to create our own reality. Of course we didn’t know that the run-up would be shut down by such a stomach flipping (think roller coaster) drop which happened (in my area anyway) at the end of July 2007. Yes. I know the month. Exactly. It was as if someone threw a switch. Home Sales….OFF I’m an eternal optimist though and strive to find the positive in any situation. So it was this week as I found myself being extremely grateful that we did not pursue that building project. ‘Cause I sure wouldn’t want to be a builder right now. This week the Commerce department announced housing starts for the month of January were the lowest since 1959. That report followed on the heels of a presentation at the Olympia Master Builder’s meeting where the president of New Home Trends, Inc of Bothell delivered the sobering news that many of them...

Next Time Ignore the Voices

By Colleen Fischesser

Remember those whispers that plagued Kevin Costner’s character, Ray Kinsella, in the movie Field of Dreams….”If you build it…they will come”; softly muted, carried on the wind through rustling corn stalks? They made him wonder if he was crazy until he decided to do what the stinking voices told him to do. I wonder how many of us heard those same voices prior to this market decline? “Buy it and the money will come”. I know many in the real estate industry did, and certainly Home Builders heard their own version: “If you build it, they will buy!“. Year to Date Sales of Single Family residences in King County are down 45%over the same time period in 2008 and over 63% for the same period in 2007. That’s alot of sales not happening for agents who grew lazy and relied on referrals galling into their laps. A large difference in the number of these sales can be attributed to the decline in New Construction….tighter wallets for the builders too. A VERY rough statistical look through NWMLS single family homes breaks down as follows: 2007: January 1-February 14: 1998 Homes Sold. Approximately 430 of those were built in 2006/2007…or approximately...

21 Days Left in November….YES I’m Counting!

By Colleen Fischesser

Ever since my husband and I moved to the Seattle area (21 years ago!) I’ve never really had a problem with the weather, except during the month of November. Maybe it’s the fact that it’s dark by 4:30 and usually rains (not spits or drizzles like the rest of the winter but really rains HARD) or maybe it’s just the year begins to wind down and I begin the process of looking forward to the new year and SUN. A few weeks ago, my husband and I ventured out on a beautifully crisp Autumn Saturday to soak in some Puget Sound beauty. We drove to Titlow Beach, about a 40 minute drive from where we live in Maple Valley. Neither of us had ever visited this area, but the views were amazing and the smell of the salt water crisp. We had lunch at Steamers, where I enjoyed my favorite clams. The thing about the dark, dreary, rainy Northwest days is that they are easily forgotten. Especially when you can experience beauty and nature like this in person and pull out photographs to tide you over until next time… A view of the old Ferry pilings Tacoma Narrows Bridge...